Reframing the support we all need as we age
Americans tend to equate aging with physical and cognitive decline. This undermines our own health aging and saps the political and public will for age-friendly policies. It’s vital that advocates tell a balanced story about aging, describing later life as a time of psychological and social growth.
What the Research Tells Us
Talk about “us,” not “them.”
Be clear that we are all aging—and that we all need policies that support us at every life stage, including later life.
Explain ageism on its own terms.
Define ageism as harmful and inaccurate stereotypes and beliefs about older people. Don’t compare it to racism or sexism.
Depict the diversity of aging well.
Don’t rely on “super senior” stories of late-life athletic prowess to bust the myth that frailty is inevitable. Instead, show a variety of aging people engaging with others.
Resources / Aging
Reframing Aging Through Images: Recommendations from Research
Just like words, images play an important role in the implicit messages we send about older people.
October 18, 2022